Good Things Really Do Come In Small Packages
Low power operations can be some of the most fullfilling radio contacts an amateur radio operator can experience. For many years, I read about people who had worked some station over seas or in a neighboring country wondering how did they do that on 5 or 10 Watts? I was intrigued and began to learn as much about QRP as I could. I read everything the ARRL had to offer and I began to pick away on the information I could find on the Internet. I began to understand that QRP is not just a mode of operation. It involves everything from equipment to antennas, including mobile power sources, and the weather. It turns out QRP is one of the most interesting areas pursued by many amateur radio operators all over the world.
I didn't really get bit by the bug until I started playing around with portable antennas. I realized that amateur radio service in the field could become a real possibility due to the increasing awareness of natural disasters that we are experience throughout the world. One may never know when they could be cast in the role of providing communication service to a local group, area or even region in need. So, I have been looking at portable operation as not only as fun and interesting, but also important in our survival. The latest disaster in New Orleans, Louisiana is an excellent example where amateur radio played a critical communication role in the rescue and relief effort.
Seven Activities To Promote QRP Operation
1. Camping and Hiking provide an excellent backdrop to operate as a QRP station. I live in the Northwestern United States and the places one could operate QRP are endless. Mountain top operation would be exciting and increase a low power portable station's communication range. Of course mountain top operation would imply the person may need to be in good shape to access those type of areas. However, there are many other places to hike and camp that make QRP operation just as much or even more fun to the amateur radio operator. I have always wanted to operate from the beach, the central oregon desert or the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon.
2. Set up a club booth at your local county or state fair. This would give everyone a taste of what amateur radio is all about and offer a glimpse at just one of the more exciting amateur radio activites to the curious or newbie. Amateur radio is not just for hamfests and swap meets. It's for everyone to enjoy and what a better way to get people involved than to promote outside the boundries of our hobby.
3. Another really terrific way to get to know other hams is to join or start your own QRP net. This could be on any band. Once the net is established you could set up awards and a web site to notify visitors to the net of future on air operation dates and protocols. I have often thought about doing this someday when I have more time.
4. A lot of amateur radio operators get a real thrill out of building their own equipment and learning more about electronics and radio through building QRP equipment is a wonderful way to improve your knowledge as a amateur radio operator as well as gain a better understanding of basic electronics. I learned a great deal about electronics when I was a teenager building kits and designing my own computers and radio equipment.
5. Many people forget that QRP doesn't just mean operating in the HF bands, try operating QRP in the six meter band. I guarentee the result may surprise you. You may find using sporadic-e an opportunity to make some long distance VHF contacts. Sometimes challenging yourself to use as little power as possible can be fun and a chance to set some personal records. I still hear other amateur radio operators calling six meters the magic band.
6. Here's a no brainer. Make field day, QRP day. Go somewhere beside your home QTH and set up a low power operation. Make yourself comfortable and see how many contacts you can make. I have heard other hams talk fondly of working QRP on field day and I can't wait to try it myself someday.
7. QRP is a great way to brush up on your morse code. This is probably the best way to take the fear out of those operators who learn the code, pass the exam and never use it again. Brush up on the code and find a quiet location to start sending and receiving code. You will find that there are as many quick fists out there as there are beginners willing to make contact with you. Not only is using CW fun, nostalgic and an essential part of the history of radio, you can make contacts from locations farther away from your own using CW.
These are just a few of the main activities that can inspire QRP operation among amatuer radio operators. I look for any reason to use my radio gear and QRP operation is just as good as reason as any.OK, How Do I Get Started?
Listen, read and experiment...There are so many web pages, books and groups involved with QRP that I would not be able to mention them all here. The amount of information on the subject is staggering. You may even find that the more you learn about it, the more will want to experiment and operate at low power. The possibilities with QRP are endless.
Since you are already online reading my web page, go to a search engine of your choice and search for information on QRP. Google returns more than 2 million web pages that contain content with the search criteria of 'QRP'. Sometimes, just finding the information can be interesting. Don't forget that QRP involves other activities like building portable antennas and homebrew equipment.
Once you find some aspect of QRP you want to start with, experiment. Don't be afraid to try something in a variety of ways until you are satisfied you have achieved the best possible situation that suits your needs. I use this method when I am building antennas and homebrew equipment. People who pursue QRP find themselves exploring many aspects of amateur radio operation.
Web Resources
Internet web sites
A Newcomer's and Old-Timer's Challenge L. B. Cebik, W4RNL - www.cebik.com/edu/edu7.html
This page was last updated: September 2, 2005
Copyright 2005,
Kenneth Stevens, KE7ATE
KE7ATE@yahoo.com